Visor-latching device

ABSTRACT

A device which is particularly adapted for holding a movable visor on a headgear in a predetermined position which includes a friction surface mounted in a stationary position on the headgear and a friction clutch or latch mounted on and movable with the visor, the friction clutch including a pair of friction pawls spring biased on opposite directions and deflectable from engagement with the friction surface only in a direction acting against the spring bias so that acting together the friction pawls prevent linear motion in either direction and when one friction pawl is deflected out of contact with the friction surface motion in one direction is possible. A movable clutch finger is provided to deflect the selected friction pawl.

United States Patent 2,813,271 11/1957 Finken 3,110,034 11/1963 Aileo t.

3,315,272 4/1967 Oltetal. 2/3 3,400,407 9/1968 Aiieo 2/6 PrimaryExaminer-1-l. Hampton Hunter Attorney-Beehler & Arant ABSTRACT: A devicewhich is particularly adapted for holding a movable visor on a headgearin a predetermined position which includes a friction surface mounted ina stationary position on the headgear and a friction clutch or latchmounted on and movable with the visor, the friction clutch including apair of friction pawls spring biased on opposite directions anddeflectable from engagement with the friction surface only in adirection acting against the spring bias so that acting together thefriction pawls prevent linear motion in either direction and when onefriction pawl is deflected out of contact with the friction surfacemotion in one direction is possible. A movable clutch finger is providedto deflect the selected friction pawl.

PATENIED JAN 41912 3; 31,'54

sum 1 BF 3 [NV/i.

WILLIAM H. PENNY ATTORNEYS mimenm 41912 SHEET 2 OF 3 4 ll 0 O 8 Z T 000260060 5656655 2 4 04 I6 M 54 g z 1 7 7 u V 4 I. .2 4 8% 1a 0 7 H w r I TI... x a

n M mm I 4 00 0662 wflvnvov m IN V/gN ole WILLIAM H. PENNY FIG.I2

FIG."

ATTORNEYS PATENTEDJAN 41972 $531,540

sum 3 BF 3 I 224 236 40 u 232 220 2M I ENTOR.

WlL-LMM H. PENNY BY 6 Wfia ATTORNEYS VISOR-ILATCIIING DEVICE The presentinvention provides a clutch or latch device which is particularlysuitable for use with movable visors on headgear pieces. The clutchdevice of this invention is operable under adverse conditions. The readyaccessibility of the actuating member to the wearer of the headgearpermits the clutch to be operated by a heavily gloved hand with speedand accuracy. When the clutch device is affixed to the movable visor, italso serves as a handle to move the visor from one desired position toanother. The arrangement of the operative elements of the frictionclutch is such that the clutch operates when the actuating member ispushed in the direction in which it is desired to move the visor. Thewearer of the headgear needs to make only one continuous motion in thedesired direction to accomplish both the disengaging of the clutch andthe movement of the visor.

The convenience and efficient utility of this clutch device are alsovery useful in many other structures where two elements of the structureare movable relative to one another but must be releasably held in fixedrelationship to one another at various positions. The clutch device ofthis invention is equally effective at any position along the frictionsurface.

When a dual-visored helmet is to be equipped with clutches of thisinvention, it is convenient to provide one clutch on each side of thehelmet with the clutch on one side being operatively associated with theouter visor and the clutch on the other side being operativelyassociated with the inner visor.

In the drawing there is illustrated:

FIG. I is a side elevation of a dual visor helmet with a clutch or latchdevice operatively associated with each visor;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation partly in phantom of the dual visor helmetshown in FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a perspective cutaway view of a clutch device;

FIG. 4 is a perspective broken view of a further embodiment of a clutchdevice of this invention;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view in cross section of an embodiment of aclutch device of this invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 66 in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation sectional view taken along line 7 7 in FIG.5;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing the clutch device in oneactuated position;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing the clutch device in a secondactuated position;

FIG. 10 is a perspective cutaway view of a further embodiment of aclutch of this invention;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line I1-II in FIG. I;

FIG. 12 is a perspective cutaway view of a further embodiment of aclutch device of this invention;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-13 in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a perspective cutaway view of a further embodiment of aclutch device of this invention;

FIG. I is a front elevation sectional view of the clutch deviceillustrated in FIG. M;

FIG. I6 is a front elevation sectional view of a further embodiment of aclutch device of this invention;

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional side elevation view of a further embodimentof a clutch device of this invention;

FIG. 18 is a perspective cutaway view of the clutch device illustratedin FIG. 17; and

FIG. 19 is a perspective view in phantom illustrating an additionalembodiment of a clutch device of this invention.

Referring particularly to the drawings, there is illustrated a helmetwhich is provided with a generally spherical curved crown I2 and curvedlobes M depending from the lower edge of the crown at diametricallyopposed sides thereof. When the helmet is placed on the head of awearer, lobes I4 cover and protect the sides of the head and ears of thewearer. The front opening of the helmet is defined between the forwarddownwardly presented edge 16 of crown I2 and the forwardly presentededges of the side lobes Id. The face of the wearer is exposed throughthe opening thus defined. In a typical helmet of the kind illustrated inthe drawings, the forward edge of the crown I6 extends across theforehead of the wearer approximately at the level of the eyebrows.

In the visor construction represented in the drawings, a visorattachment I8 is secured to the helmet 10. The visor constructionincludes a visor housing 20, which is curved in both the horizontal andvertical planes to embrace the forward portion of the helmet crown 12 inthe region directly above the forward crown edge 16. The housing has aforwardly presented wall 22 along the upper edge of which is arearwardly directed flange 24. Flange 24 seats against the outer surfaceof the helmet crown I2 to space the upper edge of the forwardlypresented housing wall 22 from the crown.

Indicated at 30 and 32 in phantom in FIG. 2 and in FIG. I are a pair oftransparent visors or lenses movably mounted in a spaced-apartsuperimposed relationship. Each transparent visor lens 30 and 32 iscurved horizontally and vertically to match the curvature of visorhousing 20. The visor housing wall 22 and the visor lenses 30 and 32 arecircularly curved in each vertical plane parallel to the fore and aftplane of the symmetry of the helmet 10, about a common axis extendingnormally to said planes. The two downwardly and rearwardly extendingedge ends of each visor lens 30 and 32 at the sides 14 of the helmet 10are also circularly curved about a common axis.

Visor tracks 26 and 28 are mounted at the respective temple areas ofhelmet 10 and are adapted to cooperate with extensions of visor lenses30 and 32 to carry these lenses as they move from retracted to extendedpositions. The visor lenses 30 and 32 are provided with respective visorlens holders 34 and 36. These lens holders 34 and 36 serve as extensionsof the respective visor lenses 30 and 32. The visor lens holders aremounted at the downwardly and rearwardly extending edge ends of thevisor lenses.

A friction surface 38, see, for example, FIG. 3, is provided on anoutwardly projecting ledge of visor track 26. A further embodiment of afriction surface 40 is provided on an arcuate rearwardly presented sideof visor housing 20, see, for example, FIG. 4. The respective frictionsurfaces 38 and 40 are adapted to cooperate with a clutch device of thisinvention.

The clutch or latch device, indicated generally at 42 and illustratedparticularly in FIGS. 3 and 5 through 9, includes a clutch or latchsupport 44 which is integral with lens holder 34. Clutch device 42includes a housing 46 mounted on clutch support 44 and a piston 48slidably received in 46 for axial movement therein. Clutch or latchfingers 50 and 51 are linked together by piston 48 and extend outwardlyin the same plane from piston 48. Friction pawl 52 is pivotally mountedon clutch support 44 for rotation in a plane parallel to the axis ofpiston 48 and normal to the axis of clutch finger 50. Friction pawl 52is provided with an outer end tip 54 which is adapted to be normallypositioned in frictional engagement with surface 38. Friction pawl 56 ispivotally mounted on clutch sup port 44 for rotation in the same planeas friction pawl 52. The outer end tip 58 of friction pawl 56 is adaptedto be normally frictionally engaged with friction surface 38. A preloadtorsion spring 60 is mounted between friction pawls 52 and 56 on a.spring retainer pin 62. The arms of preload torsion spring 60 arepositioned so that they act on the respective inner opposed sides 64 and66 of friction pawls 52 and 56, thus tending to urge the outer end tipsof friction pawls 52 and 56 outwardly from one another. Clutch fingers50 and SI are disposed respectively adjacent the outer opposed sides 68and 70 of respective friction pawls 52 and 56.

In operation the clutch device, indicated generally at 42, is positionedso that friction pawls 52 and 56 are positioned adjacent frictionsurface 38 with their respective outer end tips 54 and 58 in frictionalengagement with friction surface 38. The friction pawls 52 and 56 aremounted adjacent to friction surface 38 in such a manner that thedistance from the pivot point of the pawls to the surface 38 is slightlyless than the length of the friction pawl projecting from the pivotpoint toward friction surface 38. The pawls are slightly deflectedtowards one another and against the reaction of preload torsion springs60. The friction pawls 52 and 56 are thus located slightly over centerfrom their pivot points towards one another so that the force of torsionspring 60 tends to drive the outer end tips 54 and 58, respectively, ofthe pawls into locking frictional engagement with friction surface 36.Friction pawl 52 resists relative movement between clutch support 44 andthe friction surface 38 in a direction such that a point on frictionsurface 38 would move from friction pawl 56 toward friction pawl 52.Friction pawl 56 resists relative movement between friction surface 33and clutch support 44, wherein a point on friction surface 38 moves fromfriction pawl 52 towards friction pawl 56. So long as both frictionpawls 52 and 56 are in frictional locking engagement with fric tionsurface 38, relative movement between friction surface 38 and clutchsupport 44 is prevented. Axial movement of slidably mounted piston 48carries clutch fingers 50 and 51 with it and deflects one of thefriction pawls 52 or 56. The movement of piston 48 toward the outeropposed side 68 of pawl 52 causes clutch finger 56 to deflect pawl 52away from friction surface 38 and toward friction pawl 56. With theouter end tip 54 of friction pawl 52 released from friction surface 38,clutch support 44 is free to move relative to friction surface 38 insuch a direction that a point on surface 38 moves from friction pawl 56towards deflected friction pawl 52, as illustrated particularly in FIG.8. The outer end tip 58 of friction pawl 56 slides along frictionsurface 38 as long as it continues to move in this direction. Frictionpawl 56 will enter into locking frictional engagement with frictionsurface 38 to prevent relative motion in the other direction. When it isdesired to move clutch support 44 and friction surface 38 relative toone another in the opposite direction, piston 48 is moved axiallytowards the outer opposed side 70 of friction pawl 56 and clutch fingerS1 deflects friction pawl 56 against the reaction of preload torsionspring 60 towards friction pawl 52, thus disengaging outer end tip 58from locking frictional engagement with friction surface 38. Relativemovement between clutch support 44 and friction surface 38 is nowpossible in a direction such that a point on friction surface 38 movesfrom friction pawl 52 toward friction pawl 56, as illustratedparticularly in FIG. 9. When friction surface 38 is stationary, theforce applied to the piston 48 to release a respective friction pawl isapplied in the same direction in which clutch support 44 is free to moveafter a friction pawl has been released from looking engagement withfriction surface 38. When the clutch device is used in connection with avisor on a helmet, the wearer of the helmet need only make onecontinuous motion in the direction in which it is desired to move thevisor lens to accomplish both release of the clutch and movement of thelens.

The clutch device, indicated generally at 72 and illustratedparticularly in FIGS. and 11, includes a clutch support 74 which isintegral with a lens holder and forms an extension of a visor lens. Ahousing 76 is mounted on clutch support 74. A piston 78 is slidablymounted in housing 76 for axially movement. A clutch finger 80 is linkedto and extends outwardly from piston 78. Friction pawl 82 is mounted toclutch support 74 on pawl pivot pin 84. Friction pawl 82 has an inneropposed side 86 and an outer opposed side 88 and an outer end tip 90.Friction pawl 92 is mounted for pivotal movement on clutch support 74 bymeans of pawl pivot pin 94. Friction pawl 92 is provided with an inneropposed side 96, an outer opposed side 98, and an outer end tip 101).Outer end tips 90 and 100, respectively. are adapted to be normallypositioned in frictional locking engagement with frictional surface 38.A preload torsion spring 102 is mounted between friction pawls 82 and 92on spring retainer pin 104. Preload torsion spring 102 acts against theouter opposed sides 88 and 94, respectively, of friction pawls 82 and 92and urges these friction pawls inwardly towards one another. Clutchfinger 80 is disposed between friction pawls 82 and 92 and is in contactwith respective inner opposed sides 86 and 96. The distance betweenfriction surface 38 and the pivot points 84 and 94, respectively, offriction pawls 82 and 92 is adjusted so that it is slightly less thanthe length of the friction pawls extending from their respective pivotpoints to the friction surface 38. The pawls are mounted so that theaction of the preload torsion spring 102 wedges the friction pawlsinwardly towards one another against surface 38. The frictional lockingengagement of pawl 82 with surface 33 is such that pawl 82 preventsrelative movement between clutch support 74 and surface 38. wherein apoint on surface 38 moves from pawl 82 towards pawl 92. Pawl 92frictionally engages with friction surface 38 to prevent the movement ofa point on surface 38 from pawl 92 towards pawl 82. Clutch finger ispositioned between friction pawls 82 and 92 and is in contact with therespective inner opposed sides 86 and 96. The movement of clutch finger80 towards pawl 92 and away from pawl 82 will result in thedisengagement of frictional pawl 92 from frictional locking engagementwith friction surface 38. This movement of clutch finger 80 is effectedby moving piston 78 toward friction pawl 92. With friction pawl 92disengaged through the action of clutch finger 80, relative movementbetween friction surface 38 and clutch support 74 is possible in such adirection that a point on friction surface 38 moves from friction pawl92 towards friction pawl 82.

In the embodiment, illustrated particularly in FIGS. 12 and 13, a clutchdevice 106 is provided with clutch support 108 and a movable housing 110slidably mounted on clutch support 108. Clutch finger 112 is movablewith housing 110. Friction pawl 114 is pivotally mounted on pawl pivotpin 116. Pawl pivot pin 116 is joumaled in clutch support 108. Frictionpawl 114 is provided with inner opposed side 118, outer opposed side120, and outer end tip 122. Friction pawl 124 is pivotally mounted onpawl pivot pin 126 and has inner opposed side 128, outer opposed side130, and outer end tip 132. A preload torsion spring 134 is mountedbetween friction pawls 114 and 124 on spring retainer pin 136. Springretainer pin 136 is mounted in clutch support 108. Preload torsionspring 134 bears against the outer opposed sides and 130, respectively,of friction pawls 114 and 124 so as to bias these friction pawlsinwardly toward one another. The coaction between the friction pawls anda friction surface, not shown, is substantially the same as thatdescribed hereinabove, particularly in reference to FIGS. 10 and 11.Disengagement of the clutch and relative linear movement between afriction surface, not shown, and the embodiment of a clutch shown inFIGS. 12 and 13 is accomplished by pushing movable housing 110 in thedirection it is desired to move the housing and attached structure. Thehousing moves in the same plane in which the pawls move.

The embodiment of a clutch device of this invention, illustratedparticularly in FIGS. 14 and 15, includes a clutch device 138 which hasa clutch support 140. Clutch support 140 is an extension of lens holder34. A housing 142 is mounted on clutch support 140. A piston 144 isslidably mounted for axial movement in housing 142. Clutch fingers 146and 148 are linked to and movable with piston 144. Fric tion pawl 150 ispivotally mounted to clutch support 140 by means of pawl pivot pin 152and is provided with an inner opposed side 154, an outer opposed side156, and an outer end tip 158. Friction pawl is pivotally mounted onpawl pivot pin 162 for rotation in the same plane as friction pawl 150.Friction pawl 160 is provided with an inner opposed side 164, an outeropposed side 166, and an outer end tip 168. The preload torsion springis positioned between friction pawls 150 and 160 and is mounted onspring retainer pin 172. Spring retainer pin 172 is mounted on clutchsupport 140. Preload torsion spring 170 is positioned to act against theinner opposed sides 154 and 164 of respective friction pawls 150 and 160so as to bias the outer end tips 158 and 168 outwardly in oppositedirections along friction surface 40. Piston 144 is slidably mounted inthe same plane as the plane in which friction pawls 150 and 160 rotate.The interaction of the clutch fingers and the friction pawls incooperation with surface 40 to effect holding or movement in the desireddirection is the same as that described hereinabove, particularly inreference to FlGS. 8 and 9. As described above, one of the pawls acts asa reverse release pawl, which resists movement along a friction surfacein one direction and permits movement along the same friction surface inthe reverse direction. Another of the pawls acts as a forward releasepawl, which resists movement in the reversed direction but permitsmovement in the opposite forward direction. The clutch fingers M6 and148 are linked together with piston 144 into a generally C-shapedconfiguration in which the friction pawls 150 and 160 are mounted withinthe open C, with their outer end tips 115% and 168, respectively,extending through the open side of the C. The ends of the C form theclutch fingers 146 and M6, which are positioned in contact with theouter opposed sides 156 and 166, respectively, of friction pawls 35thand 160. The deflected position of pawl 150 is illustrated in phantom inH6. 15.

In the embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 16, a clutch device 174 isprovided with a housing 175 which is mounted on a clutch support H76. Agenerally T-shaped clutch finger 178 is mounted on piston 179. Piston179 is slidably mounted for axial movement in housing 175. Frictionpawls 186 and 190 are mounted for pivotal movement in a common plane onclutch support 176 by means of pawl pivot pins 122 and 1192,respectively. Friction pawls 124) and 1% are provided respectively withinner opposed sides 184i and 194i, outer opposed sides 186 and 196, andouter end tips 188 and 196. A preload torsion spring 200 is mountedbetween the friction pawls 160 and 190 on spring retainer pin 202.Friction pawls 180 and 190 are mounted so that they are spring biasedinwardly. Outer end tips 188 and 198, respectively, are adapted tonormally engage friction surface 40 at such a location that linesextending normal to friction surface 40 from the point where the outerend tips contact surface 40 will pass on the outer sides of therespective pawl pivot points. The tips of the arms of the T-shapedclutch finger 178 contact the respective inner opposed sides 184 and 194of the friction pawls. The coaction of piston 179, clutch finger 176,and the friction pawls to the effect the disengagement and movement ofthe clutch device 174 follows the same principles as describedhereinabove, particularly with reference to FIGS. 10 and 1B.

In the embodiment, illustrated particularly in FIGS. 17 and 18, there isillustrated a clutch device 264, including a clutch support 206 and amovable housing 20%. Clutch fingers 210 and 212 are carried by movablehousing 2%. Friction pawls 21d and 226 are pivotally mounted on clutchsupport 266 by means of pawl pivot pins 216 and 228, respectively. Pivotpin relief slots 218 and 230 are provided in movable housing 206. Therespective pawl pivot pins are joumaied in these pivot pin relief slots.The pivot pins and the frictional pawls are mounted in a stationaryposition on clutch support 266. Frictional pawls 214 and 226 areprovided respectively with inner opposed sides 220 and 232, outeropposed sides 222 and 234i, and outer end tips 224 and 236. A preloadtorsion spring 238 is positioned between friction pawls 214 and 226 andis mounted on spring retainer 240. The friction pawls 214 and 226 arebiased outwardly in opposite directions by means of preload torsionspring 238. Clutch fingers 210 and 212 are mounted on and carried bymovable housing 208 into engagement with the respective outer opposedsides 222 and 23d of respective friction pawls 214i and226. The frictionpawls 2M and 226 are mounted so that a line extending normal to frictionsurface from the point where the outer end tip of the respectivefriction pawl contacts surface 40 passes inside of the respective pawlpivot pin. The action of preload torsion spring 38 is one of wedging theouter end tips of friction pawls outwardly against friction surface 40.Spring 38 tends to force pawl 214 to rotate clockwise, and to force pawl226 to rotate counterclockwise in the same plane. The release andmovement of clutch device 204 relative to friction surface 40 isaccomplished substantially as described hereinabove, particularly withreference to FIGS. 14 and 15, except that clutch fingers 210 and 212 arecarried on movable housing 208 rather than on a piston slidably receivedin a stationary housing.

In the embodiment, illustrated particularly in FIG. 19, a clutch device242 is provided with amovable housing 246. Clutch finger 243 is mountedon and movable with housing 246. Friction pawls 250 and 258 arepivotally mounted for rotation in a common plane stationary with respectto visor lens holder 34. The friction pawls are rotatable in a planewhich is parallel to the plane in which relative movement between clutchdevice 242 and a friction surface, not shown, is effected. Frictionpawls 250 and 258 are pivotally mounted on pawl pivot pins 252 and 260,respectively. Pivot pin release slots 254 and 262 are provided inmovable housing 246 to permit stationary pawl pivot pins 252 and 260 tobe received and joumaied in movable housing 246. The outer end tips 256and 264 of respective friction pawls 250 and 258 project outwardlythrough openings in housing 246 and are adapted to engage with afriction surface, not shown. A preload torsion spring 266 is provided tobias friction pawls 250 and 258 inwardly towards one another. Theoperation of clutch device 242 is similar to that described hereinabove,particularly with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, except that clutch finger248 is carried by movable housing 246 rather than by a movable pistonslidably received in a fixed housing.

The two transparent visor lenses 30 and 32, FIGS. 1 and 2, are providedwith different light transmission characteristics; so by alternatelyextending and retracting one or both of the visors, a wide variety ofambient light conditions may be compensated for. The visor housing 20provides a durable protective housing into which the visor lenses 30 and32 may be retracted when the helmet is not in use so as to protect thetransparent visors from scratches and other damages.

What has been described are preferred embodiments in which modificationsand changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A visored helmet having an open front and closed sides adapted to beworn by a person, said helmet comprising:

a visor lens mounted on said helmet for movement between a position oversaid open front and a position withdrawn from said open front;

a friction surface mounted on said helmet;

a latch including;

a latch support mounted on said visor lens;

at least two friction pawls pivotally mounted on said latch support, theshortest distance between said friction surface and the respective pivotpoint of each pawl being less than the respective length of each pawlfrom its pivot point to its outer tip end, means normally biasing theouter tip ends of said pawls in opposite directions into frictionalengagement with said friction surface, and means for selectivelyreleasing one of said pawls from contact with said friction surface bymoving one said pawl against said biasing means.

2. A helmet as in claim 1 wherein each of said pawls is adapted toresist the relative movement of the friction surface toward said pawlfrom the other said pawl, the means for selectively releasing said pawlsincluding latch fingers operatively disposed adjacent the respectivepawls, whereby movement of a latch finger toward the adjacent pawldeflects the pawl towards the other said pawl and permits the relativemovement of the frictional surface toward the deflected pawl from theother said pawl.

3. A helmet as in claim 1 wherein the friction pawls are biased towardone other and each of said pawls is adapted to resist the relativemovement of the frictional surface from said pawl toward the other saidpawl, the means for selectively releasing said pawls including latchfingers operatively disposed adjacent the respective pawls, wherebymovement of a latch finger toward the adjacent pawl deflects the pawlaway from the other said pawl and permits the relative movement of saidfrictional surface from said deflected pawl toward the other said pawl.

4. A helmet as in claim 1 wherein the means for releasing includes aplurality of latch fingers linked together positioned adjacent therespective outer opposed sides of said pawls and said pawls are biasedoutwardly in opposite directions.

5v A helmet as in claim ll wherein the means for releasing includes alatch finger positioned between the respective inner opposed sides ofsaid pawls and said pawls are biased inwardly toward one another.

6. A helmet as in claim 1 wherein there are two pivotally mountedfriction pawls, said pawls being spring biased outwardly away from eachother, a pair of latch fingers positioned respectively at the outeropposed sides of said pawls for movement with and against said springforce.

7. A helmet device as in claim 1 wherein there are two pivotally mountedfriction pawls, said pawls being spring biased inwardly toward eachother, a latch finger positioned between the respective inner opposedsides of said pawls for movement with and against said spring force.

8. A visored helmet of claim 1 wherein said helmet is provided with twovisor lenses slidably mounted in superimposed relationship to oneanother, two of said friction surfaces mounted on said helmet, and oneof said latches mounted on each of said visor lenses in operativeassociation with a respective friction surface.

9. A visored helmet having an open front and closed sides adapted to beworn by a person, said helmet comprising:

a visor lens mounted on said helmet for movement between a position oversaid open front and a position withdrawn from said open front;

a friction surface mounted on said helmet;

a latch including;

a latch support mounted on said visor lens;

at least two friction pawls pivotally mounted on said latch support,means normally biasing the outer tip ends of said pawls into frictionalengagement with said friction surface, said means biasing said pawls inopposite directions, each of said pawls being positioned in contact withsaid friction surface at a location slightly over center with respect toa plane extending vertically from said friction surface through therespective pivot point of said pawl, means for selectively releasing oneof said pawls from locking engagement with said friction surface by themovement of the respective said pawl against the force of said biasingmeans, whereby upon release of a selected one of said pawls the othersaid pawl can slide over said friction surface and said visor lens canbe moved in the desired direction.

1. A visored helmet having an open front and closed sides adapted to beworn by a person, said helmet comprising: a visor lens mounted on saidhelmet for movement between a position over said open front and aposition withdrawn from said open front; a friction surface mounted onsaid helmet; a latch including; a latch support mounted on said visorlens; at least two friction pawls pivotally mounted on said latchsupport, the shortest distance between said friction surface and therespective pivot point of each pawl being less than the respectivelength of each pawl from its pivot point to its outer tip end, meansnormally biasing the outer tip ends of said pawls in opposite directionsinto frictional engagement with said friction surface, and means forselectively releasing one of said pawls from contact with said frictionsurface by moving one said pawl against said biasing means.
 2. A helmetas in claim 1 wherein each of said pawls is adapted to resist therelative movement of the friction surface toward said pawl from theother said pawl, the means for selectively releasing said pawlsincluding latch fingers operatively disposed adjacent the respectivepawls, whereby movement of a latch finger toward the adjacent pawldeflects the pawl towards the other said pawl and permits the relativemovement of the frictional surface toward the deflected pawl from theother said pawl.
 3. A helmet as in claim 1 wherein the friction pawlsare biased toward one other and each of said pawls is adapted to resistthe relative movement of the frictional surface from said pawl towardthe other said pawl, the means for selectively releasing said pawlsincluding latch fingers operatively disposed adjacent the respectivepawls, whereby movement of a latch finger toward the adjacent pawldeflects the pawl away from the other said pawl and permits the relativemovement of said frictional surface from said deflected pawl toward theother said pawl.
 4. A helmet as in claim 1 wherein the means forreleasing includes a plurality of latch fingers linked togetherpositioned adjacent the respective outer opposed sides of said pawls andsaid pawls are biased outwardly in opposite directions.
 5. A helmet asin claim 1 wherein the means for releasing includes a latch fingerpositioned between the respective inner opposed sides of said pawls andsaid pawls are biased inwardly toward one another.
 6. A helmet as inclaim 1 wherein there are two pivotally mounted friction pawls, saidpawls being spring biased outwardly away from each other, a pair oflatch fingers positioned respectively at the outer opposed sides of saidpawls for movement with and against said spring force.
 7. A helmetdevice as in claim 1 wherein there are two pivotally mounted frictionpawls, said pawls being spring biased inwardly toward each other, alatch finger positioned between the respective inner opposed sides ofsaid pawls for movement with and against said spring force.
 8. A visoredhelmet of claim 1 wherein said helmet is provided with two visor lensesslidably mounted in superimposed relationship to one another, two ofsaid friction surfaces mounted on said helmet, and one of said latchesmounted on each of said visor lenses in Operative association with arespective friction surface.
 9. A visored helmet having an open frontand closed sides adapted to be worn by a person, said helmet comprising:a visor lens mounted on said helmet for movement between a position oversaid open front and a position withdrawn from said open front; afriction surface mounted on said helmet; a latch including; a latchsupport mounted on said visor lens; at least two friction pawlspivotally mounted on said latch support, means normally biasing theouter tip ends of said pawls into frictional engagement with saidfriction surface, said means biasing said pawls in opposite directions,each of said pawls being positioned in contact with said frictionsurface at a location slightly over center with respect to a planeextending vertically from said friction surface through the respectivepivot point of said pawl, means for selectively releasing one of saidpawls from locking engagement with said friction surface by the movementof the respective said pawl against the force of said biasing means,whereby upon release of a selected one of said pawls the other said pawlcan slide over said friction surface and said visor lens can be moved inthe desired direction.